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Product description

Product Description

By the latter half of the seventies, disco-mixes – extended versions of tracks - were de rigueur throughout popular music. The trend was particularly suited to reggae, as vocal cuts could be spliced with DJ or Dub cuts to create long-playing versions singles - and there was no greater exponent of the disco-mix format than Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

From 1976 to 1980, Perry created some of the most sublime 12” singles ever to see issue and the very best of these works are collected here on this long over due collection, Disco Devil.

Top customer reviews

I managed to score a few of these originals "back in the day", and they remain some of my most treasured dub-plates. Carlton Jackson's History, Junior Delgado's Sons of Slaves (seek out Sons of Dub!), Raphael Green's Rasta Train and Junior Mervin's (sic) Roots Train No 1 are all blindingly good, and it's nice to find the full length mixes on a CD at last. But throw in George Faith's haunting To Be A Lover, The Heptones' Party Time and Lee Perry's insane disco workout on Max Romeo's Chase The Devil - Disco Devil - and a bunch of other gems and what you've got here is an essential slice of reggae history. This is, as they say, all thriller and no filler. If you're even remotely into Lee Perry's sound, this is unmissable. It's a genius at the height of his powers. Made my week!

The material on here is of course some of the greatest reggae ever made. I bought many of the originals and still have them and was wondering whether to swap them for this release and cash in on the high prices they now fetch.

The quality of the transfers on this CD is variable. Sons of Slaves and History are just like the vinyl originals. Disco Devil is a different version from the 12 inch single on Black Art which has been sped up significantly spoiling the vocals and swing of the rhythm, and the sound is a bit muddy. Free the Prisoners is a bit bright and flat - the various levels of sounds and instruments seem to have a physical depth on vinyl that has not survived. Listening all the way through these cds I'd say this release is unpredictable - just like the old days. But I shan't be selling the originals after all!

ffs! this is truly the cat's baws! 18 slices of 12" magic from a man playing at the top of his game. genius level from amazingly productive black ark period. in my view, cd1 demonstrates the invention, cd2 concentrates on the spirit of roots, but the whole package bulges with quality. if forced at knifepoint to name a highlight, i would go for watty barnett's "rainy night in portland".supreme! for anyone wishing to experience lee perry's work, start with this, "sipple out deh", "super ape", and "essential madness from the upsetter files", and then branch out to where the fancy takes you.

OK, many of the tracks here have appeared on other Perry compilations that have appeared over the years, and most were familiar to me. It's still great to have these classic tracks and mixes all together in one nicely-designed double-cd set. I had never heard the extended version of 'Norman', or Perry covering 'Chase The Devil' (the title track), so this was an added bonus. If you don't have many of these and are a Perry fan, it's essential.

If you like Lee Perry buy this CD, you will not be disappointed.There are a couple of lesser tracks and some of the audio quality is a bit ropey, but overall it is very good.You cannot buy any of these tracks on vinyl for under £100, so this CD is a must for anyone interested in Roots Reggae from The Black Ark Studio courtesy of Mad Bad Lee Perry!!!

great selection of some of lee perry,s toughest tunes from the black ark .i already had most of the tracks on the vinyl boxset , from the ark , but i could,nt resist getting them again on this cd .anyone curious about the amazing sound that perry got from his very basic equipment should listen to this as it contains some real classics and showcases perrys production perfectly .